BETTER THAN A GOLD-MINE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 772, 7 September 1853, Page 4

BETTER THAN A GOLD-MINE.

[Freni the '‘Melbourne Argus,” August 11, 1853.] One of the most feasible, and at the same lime publicly beneficial undertakings we ever heard of has just been described to us. The proposition is ingenious, well founded, and busi-ness-like. It is this: — A gentleman Ions; connected with an -extensive Beet Sugar manufactory in Ireland, has determined to commence a similar undertaking in New Zealand; getting machinery of the most improved construction from Europe, and instructing the Maories in the cultivation of the root. Any one in the least acquainted with gardening or farming operations in Australia must know how freely and luxuriantly the beet grows here; and in the genial, but more humid, clime of New Zealand, Us success, we are quite certain, will be still more remarkable. The Maori employed in such pursuits as this, is a regular and industrious workman, his labour is very cheap, rich laud is plentiful; and his pig will luxuriate upon the rich refuse which such an establishment will pour forth in profusion. The gentleman undertaking the formation of this establishment is practically acquainted with every branch of the business, from the sowing of the seed to the last refining process of the loaf-sugar; and the article which he prepares is bright, and clear, and as beautifully crystallised as any sugar we ever saw, as any one may see who chooses to inspect a sample left at our office. The Company in Ireland pays very handsome dividends, in spite of being taxed to the extent of 101. per ton of ■ their product. How splendid a field is opened, then, in supplying an unlaxcd article to these wealthy colonies; with wild land, fine climate, and cheap labour in lavish abundance! The calculations of the projector are consequently of so flattering a nature, as would charm the heart of the veriest money-grubber amongst us. To ourselves, the proposition is chiefly agreeable ns affording an opportunity of a vast step towards civilisation, to the New Zealanders; one of the most interesting races in the world. We like boldness of conception, originality, and vigor; we like to see the full development of the various good gifts wJiioli Providence has so showered upon us, if weeboose to enjoy them in a reverent end thankful spirit; hut more than all, we like to see opportunity afforded to a noble nation, to stride forward in the common race; and forgetting their ancient barbarisms of idolatry, Avar, and cannibalism, to glide, through the benign agencies of agriculture ami commerce, into an enlightened, industrious, and Christian people. We have always though! highly of the future position of New Zealand, and it is such these that tend to strengthen our impression. We are afraid that we .-shall offend »our friends of the Adlh, by classing 'war between idolatry and cannibalism. Bui fie fact is that we look upon the painted'-cannibal rather more indulgently than upon the dressed soldier, inasmuch as the taking of life without useful application of the body, is an aggravation’ rather than a palliation of the offence; and the man ’who shoots his fellow-creature and leaves him, seems somewhat worse than the one who shoots him, because he intends to cat him. We say, let us never take human life under any circumstances whatever. Bui if it be taken, we denour to the practice of the gentleman in scarlet cloth who kills his brother man and leaves hieo on the ground, rather than to that of the gentleman in blue paint, who takes him away and htings him up quietly in the larder. The establ ishjr»2nl is to be founded by a joint-slock compaLiiy; a considerable portion of the shares of which will be taken by the Beet Sugar Company in Ireland, and large sums have been already invested ia Melbourne, All further information will, tvc are sure, he readily furnished by the gentleman concerned, who is a Mr. Sullivan, and who hgis an office at McCormack’s, in Bourkc-slreet.